THE veteran midfielder is convinced the mercurial Everton midfielder has the ability to have a similar impact Wayne Rooney had at Euro 2004 when burst on to the scene.

England's Ross Barkley is ready to shine at the World Cup in Brazil (Photo: Action Images)

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THE SETTING was the Sun Life Stadium in Miami, not the Stadium of Light in Lisbon.

It was 2014, not 2004. But Frank Lampard watched Wednesday night’s game between England and Ecuador and had flashbacks.

He saw an Everton prodigy willing to take the ball and commit defenders, backing his own talent to get clear of his marker, looking to play the killer ball.

A decade ago, of course, that talent was Wayne Rooney. Now it comes with the name Ross Barkley.

And while England manager Roy Hodgson wants to stop too much pressure and expectation being piled on the Goodison ace after his first start for the national team, Lampard accepted the comparisons are correct.

The former Chelsea midfielder, who blossomed alongside Rooney in Portugal but is now Hodgson’s senior statesman, said: “There are a lot of similarities there.

“You see it in their build and where they play. It’s that fearlessness of youth. I see the similarities. Great ability and running at people with the ball.

“Ross looked very sharp, showed a lot of energy and skill. When you’ve got players like that who can run away from people and make things happen, you’re happy.

“He’s a young boy but he’s got the bit between his teeth. He’s more of a No.10 than I ever was but he’s very good at receiving the ball and turning quickly.

“It’s brilliant, for him and the team, to see him come through. It’s great to have players who can make things happen.

“Ecuador was his first start but he showed enough that we can say he deserves his place in the squad.”

Lampard’s reaction echoed that of those inside the Sun Life Stadium and the watching millions back home, desperate now to see Hodgson take the plunge and throw Barkley in against Italy in Manaus.

The manager, though, is cautious. His post-match comments about Barkley’s deficiencies were part of that. He wants to nurture the talent, not smother it.

Hodgson, who was delighted by Rooney’s contribution on the left but whose options have been curtailed by the extent of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s knee injury, said: “Ross has got drive, he’s got energy.

“But he’s got a lot to learn, not least when he needs to release the ball, when he can turn with it, because for every good turn there was a time when he lost it and put us on the back foot defensively.

“But he’ll be happy with his performance. He’s a talented boy. I’m not criticising him. I’m just making certain that people don’t get too carried away.

“When you’ve got a player who is prepared to take a lot of risks with the ball, there will be times in the game when we need him. And he’s not here to learn, he’s here to be a part of our team and to play.”

Hodgson admitted he was “trying to deflect” the scrutiny on the 20-year-old for fear of it becoming too much.

He added: “I’ve seen so often what it can lead to. When an exciting talent comes on the scene we are quick to build him up and turn a blind eye to his failings because we love the positive part so much.

“He still has a lot of growing to do and I want to keep a more even keel on it.”

It will be hard to keep an even keel when the talent is that obvious. Barkley’s case grows more persuasive with every game. Ask Lampard.